Automatic fire extinguishing apparatus



Sept. 5, 1933. J. R, H I 1,925,245

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheetl Sept. 5, 1933. J T N 1,925,245

AUTOIATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Sept. 1933 lJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC FIREEXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Delaware Application January 4,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical fire extinguishing apparatus of thetype disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,264,394, granted April 30, 1918,in which a normally charged wet-pipe distribut- 5 ing systemcommunicates with two different sources of supply of extinguishing fluidso arranged that the discharge of fluid from one source, known as theinitial supply, initiates the discharge of fluid prom the other source,known as the main supply.

An object of this invention is to provide chemical mixing fireextinguishing apparatus of the type in which an impulse created by thedis charge of an initial supply of fluid initiates the discharge of themain supply of fluid, and having means for preventing the transfer offluid through the impulse passage.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in fire extinguishingapparatus of this type, means for feeding the initial supply of fluid ata substantially uniform hydrostatic pressure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in fireextinguishing equipmentof the type referred to, an improved form ofchemical mixing apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide fire extinguishingapparatus in which means is employed in the distributing system toprevent air trapped in the system from retarding the discharge ofinitial extinguishing fluid.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andparticularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewshowing a fire extinguishing system embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same system;

Fig. 3 is 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, to which I shall now refer in detail, I have shown onefire extinguishing system embodying the principles of my invention, butit should be understood that the same principles may be embodied invarious other systems and arrangements. The extinguishing system which Ihave illustrated is of the type in which a suction impulse created bythe discharge of an iintial supply of extinguishing fluid initiates asectional elevation taken on line y a sectional elevation taken on line1930. Serial No. 418,500

the discharge of extinguishing fluid from the main supply. In thissystem, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide the usual discharge pipinghaving suitably arranged sprinkler heads 11 thereon adapted to be fedwith fire extinguish-- ing agent from the riser 12. In the systemillustrated the riser extends'upwardly through the roof 13 and isconnected to the horizontally disposed tank 14 supported upon the roof.This tank serves as an expansion chamber for the distributing systemand, in addition, provides an initial supply of extinguishing fluid. Theexpansion tank, and the distributing system. communicating therewith,are usually charged with a suitable non-freezing solution. The spaceabove; the level of the liquid in the expansion tank is normallymaintained at atmospheric pressure by providing a restricted ventopening 15 through the wall of the tank.

At one end of the expansion tank I provide a suction chamber l6.which,in comparison with the expansion tank, is of relatively small volume.The interior of the suction chamber communicates with the expansion tankbelow the level of the liquid therein by means of the restricted passage17 and with the space above the level of the liquid in the expansiontank by means of the restricted passage 18. The suction chamber is inopen communication with the riser 12 through a passage 19 of relativelylarge size so that upon the opening of asprinkler head this chamber willbe quickly emptied creating a partial vacuumtherein.

For the purpose of utilizing the impulse, created by the formation ofthe partial vacuum in the suction chamber, for initiating the supply ofextinguishing agent to the riser 12 from the main supply contained within the mixing tank 20, I provide a diaphragm casing 21 mounted adjacentthe suction chamber. A diaphragm 22 secured Within the casing around itsouter edge divides the interior of the casing into upper and lowerchambers 23 and 24, respectively. The lower chamber 24 communicates withthe suction chamber through the pipe 24', while the upper chamber 23 isconnected to one end of the suction passage 25.

The chemical mixing tank normally contains the main supply ofextinguishing fluid, which may be a quantity of soda solution, and isconnected to the lower part of the riser 12. A check valve 26 isinterposedbetween this lower part of the riser and the part thereofwhich is charged with the initial supply of extinguishing fluid. Whenpressure is created within the tank extinguishing fluid is forcedupwardly through the check valve 26 into the riser 12.

For the purpose of creating pressure within the mixing tank 20 I providea container 27 for storing and feeding a suitable cheniica such assulphuric acid, into the soda solution contained within the mixing tank.The container 27 is housed within the casing or pressure dome 28 whichis mounted on top or" the tank 20 and which is in open communicationwith the interior of the tank. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings the container 27 comprises a cylindrical body portion 29 whichs loosely in, and is supported by, a cup shaped member 30. Thecup-shaped ember forms the bottom wall of the container and is arrangedwith the skirt or side wall 31 thereof surrounding side wall of the bodyportion. A horizontail extending wall 32 divides the container into twoacid storage chambers comprising an upper or primary storage chamber 33and a lower or secondary storage chamber 34. Since the body portion isnot attached to the cup-shaped member, acid will pass around the loweredge of the wall of the body portion and rise in the ail-- nular space34 to the level of the acid the secondary storage chamber. The upper endof th annular space 34 is in open communication with the interior of thecasing 28 so that pressure within the tank 20 and within the casing 28will be transmitted to the interior of the secondary acid storagechamber. In order that acid may be discharged from the secondary storagechamber, I provide a tubular member 35 which is arranged in verticalposition and secured in an opening through the bottom wall 36 so as toextend upwardly into the secondary aci storage chamber. An invertedcup-shaped member 37 is supported within the secondary chamber so as tosurround the upper end of the tubular member 35. The skirt of the member37 extends downwardly into the acid contained in the chamber in spacedrelation to the wall of the member 35 thus forming a siphon whereby acidmay be discharged into the mixing tank.

For discharging acid from the primary storage chamber into the mixingtank 20 I provide a tubular member 38 which is secured in an openingprovided through the wall 32 so as to extend upwardly into the primarystorage chamber and downwardly through the tubular member 35. [ininverted cup-shaped member 39 surrounds the upper end of the tubularmember 38 leaving an annular space between the walls of these memers.The skirt of the cup-shaped member 39 extends below the level of theacid in the primary storage chamber, and, at a point adjacent the wallopenings 40 are provided through the skirt. When the level of the acidwithin the primary chamber is raised sufficiently acid will flow intothe tubular member 38 and descend into the mixing chamber.

To facilitate the filling of the acid storage chambers I provide anoverflow passage 41 which connects these chambers. This passagecomprises a tubular member 42 having its lower end integral with thebottom wall of a well 43 provided in the wall 32. The opening of thistubular member communicates at its lower end with the interior of thesecondary storage chamber, and its upper end communicates with theinterior of the tubular member 44 which surrounds the tubular member 42.A wall 45 closes the upper end of the tubular member 44, while its sidewalls extend below the level of the acid in'the primary storage chamberand to a point adjacent the bottom wall of the well 43. When the acidstorage chambers are to be filled acid is poured into the upper chamber29. As the level of the acid rises in this chamber some of the acidenters the annular space between the tubular members 42 and 44. When thelevel of the acid reaches the opening at the upper end of the tubularmember 42 it will overflow and pass downwardly through this tubularmember into the secondary acid storage charnber. By providing the well43 in the wall 32, the lower end of the tubular member 44 will always besealed with liquid even though the amount or" acid remaining in theprimary chamber be very small. A restricted opening 46 is providedthrough the wall 45 so that pressures within casing 28 and within thesecondary acid storage chamber are normally equalized.

When the system becomes operative pressure is generated within themixing tank 20, by causing a starting charge of acid to be dischargedfrom the primary storage chamber 33 into the mixing tank. For thepurpose of causing the'acid to be initially discharged from this primarystorage chamber I provide a weight 4'7 which is adapted to beautomatically released into this storage chamber. When released theweight descends into the acid raising the level of the liquid in theprimary storage chamber and causing acid to be discharged through thetubular member 38 into the mixing tank 20. Suitable latch mechanismreleasably' supports the weight in an elevated position in the primarystorage chamber with the lug 48 of the weight fulcrumed on the top wallof the tubular member 44. The weight itself is provided with a centralopening which affords clearance for the cup-shaped member 39 when theweight descends into the storage chamber. Latch mechanism which I havefound to be suitable for releasably supporting the weight comprises abell-crank lever 49 pivotally mounted within the casing 28. The arm 50of this lever is arranged to engage a projection 51 provided on theweight while the arm 52 is adapted to be engaged adjacent the endthereof by the head 53 of a pivoted rocker arm 54. The arm 52 isprovided adjacent its free end with an opening 55 of sufficient size toaccomodate the passage of the head 53 upon movement of the rocker arm tobring this head into registration with the opening.

For pivotally mounting the rocker arm 54 within the wall of the casing28, in such a manner as to prevent the of pressure from the casing, andto permit movement of the arm with very little friction, I provide atubular sleeve 56 mounted in the wall of the casing. The opening throughthe sleeve is of sufficient size to permit the desired extent of rockingmovement of the rocker arm 54. The rocker arm is pivotally mountedwithin the opening of the sleeve by supporting this member in a flexiblebody, such as a plug 57 formed of soft rubber or similar suitablematerial. This plug permits movement of the rocker arm with very littlefrictional resistance,

and at the same time serves as a packing which 25 leading from thediaphragm casing 21 cornmunicates with the chamber 61-so that suctionimpulses occurring in this passage will be transmitted to this chamber.A stem 62 carried by the diaphragm 60 extends upwardly into the chamber58 and is guided at its upper end by a guide member 63 supported by thetop wall of the casing. The free end of the rocker arm 54 extendsthrough an opening provided in the stem 62, so that reciprocation of thestem caused by movement of the diaphragm will move the rocker arm. Acoil spring 64 mounted in the chamber 61 normally presses the diaphragmupwardly against the stop 65 provided on the inrier surface of the wallof the casing. This spring normally holds the rocker arm with the headon the inner end thereof in abutting relation with the arm 52 of thebell-crank 49.

The suction passage 25 and the chamber 61 are normally maintained atatmospheric pressure by providing a restricted opening 66 through themember 67 mounted on the suction passage 25.

In the operation of the system, the fusing of a sprinkler head permitsthe initial supply of extinguishing fluid contained in the distributingpiping and in the suction chamber 18 to be discharged. The suddendischarge of fluid from the suction chamber causes a partial vacuum tobe created within this chamber and within the chamber 24 of thediaphragm casing 21. This partial vacuum causes a sudden downwardmovement of the diaphragm 22 causing a suction impulse to be transmittedthrough thepassage 25 to the chamber 61. The suction impulse thusapplied to the chamber 61 causes the diaphragm 60 to be moved downwardlyagainst the action of the coil spring 64, thus moving the rocker arm 54about its pivot. The moving of the rocker arm about its pivot raises thehead 53 on the inner end thereof allowing the opening 55 of thebell-crank arm 52 to move over the head. The arm 50 of the bellcrankmoves simultaneously and releases the weight 47 which drops by gravityinto the acid contained within the primary storage chamber 33 and causesa starting charge of acid to be discharged into the mixing tank throughthe tubular member 38. Pressure is generated within the mixing tank 20by the mixing of the acid with the soda solution and causesextinguishing fluid to be forced through the check valve 26 into theriser l2 and out through the sprinkler heads. The pressure generatedwithin the tank 20 enters the casing 28 and also enters the secondaryacid storage chamber 34: through the restricted passage the tubularmember 35 and through the annular space 34. As fluid is discharged fromthe mixing tank 20, as a result of the pressure created therein by theaction of the starting charge of acid, the pressure within the tank andwithin the casing 28 gradually decreases. This decrease in pressureoutside of the secondary acid storage chamber 34 permits the pressuretrapped within this chamber to force acid out of the chamber through thetubular passage 35. The acid thus delivered into the mixing tank 20through the passage 35 causes renewed chemical action to generatepressure within the mixing tank. When the pressure within this tankagain decreases, due to the discharge of fluid therefrom, additionalacid will be forced from the secondary storage chamber and thiscontinued process causes a substantially continuous supply of fluid tobe delivered into the riser 12 from the mixing tank 20.

In the operation of systems of this type I have found that when thesystem is initially charged action of the chemical mixing means is alsodelayed. To prevent the trapping of air in the discharge piping, whenthe system is being'initlally charged, it has heretofore been necessaryto provide vent piping cross connecting the ends of the dischargepiping. This arrangement of piping is referred to in the art as a gridsystem of piping and is costly of installation. To overcome thisdifiiculty without resorting to the use of a grid system, I providecheck valves 68 in one or more of the connections 68 feeding the crossmeans 69 to prevent the expansion of the air thus trapped within thedischarge piping. These check valves are arranged to permitextinguishing fluid to flow into the discharge piping from the riser l2and to prevent a back-flow in the piping which is fed through the checkvalves.

In the fire extinguishing system which I have disclosed, it will benoted that the expansion tank 14 is'arranged in a horizontal positionand that the body of fluid contained therein has an extensive surfacearea. Because of this extensive surface area, any contraction orexpansion of the fluid confined in the fluid distributing system willcause but slight change in the level of the fluid standing in the tank14, and in the suction chamber 16 which is in communication therewiththrough the restricted passages 17 and 18. Therefore, since the level atwhich the fluid stands in the suction chamber is substantially constantat all times prior to the opening of a sprinkler head, a hydrostatichead corresponding with that produced by a full distributing system,will be available at the sprinkler heads at the time of opening of thefirst sprinkler head.

When the first sprinkler head opens, the fluid standing in the systemabove that particular sprinkler head, and in the suction chamber 16,will begin to flow out of the system through the opened sprinkler head.During the first few moments after the opening of the initial sprinklerhead, the level of the fluid in the suction chamber will drop rapidly,but before this chamber has been emptied, or at least before the fluidlevel has descended any materialdistance within the pipe 19, a suctionimpulse will be transmitted through the pipe 25 to actuate the releasingmechanism, and the resulting pressure discharge of fluid from the maintank 20 will be started. In other words, the various parts of theapparatus are so designed and related that thechemical system is broughtintooperation before the suction chamber has been emptied, with theresult that the discharge of fluid from the open sprinklerhead takesplace at a substantially constant hydrostatic head and without anyinterl ruption or gap in its continuity.

The flexible diaphragms 22 and 60 and the flexible fulcrum plug orbushing 57 are important parts of my fire extinguishing system. The

diaphragms readily permit suction impulses to tainer and at the sametime permits the rocker arm 54 to extend-through the wall of thiscontainer so that it can be manipulated from the exterior of thecontainer to release the discharge mechanism in the interior thereof.

While I have described the fire extinguishing systeinof my invention ina detailed manner, it should be understood, however, that I' do notintend to limit myself to the precise arrangement shown and describedbut regard my invention as including such changes and modifications asdo not involve a departure from the spirit of my invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a chemical container forsupplying chemical to a mixing tank containing a supply of extinguishingfluid, said chemical container comprising a fluidtight casing in opencommunication with said tank, upper and lower chemical storage chambersin said casing each being arranged to discharge chemical into saidmixing tank, one of said chambers being open to the pressure existing insaid casing, an overflow passage connecting said chambers, and meansassociated with said passage for retarding the equalization of pressurebetween said chambers.

2. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a chemical container forsupplying chemical to a mixing tank containing a supply or"extinguishing fluid, saidchemical container comprising a fluid-tightcasing in open communication with said tank, upper and lower chemicalstorage chambers in said casing each being arranged to dischargechemical into said mixing tank, one of said chambers being open to thepressure existing in said casing, and an overflow connecting saidchambers, said passage having an inlet opening below the normal level ofchemical in the upper chamber and a restricted pressure equalizingopening above said normal level.

3. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the com bination of a distributingsystem having a plurality of normally closed sprinkler heads adapted tobe opened in response to fire conditions, a suction chamber disposed atan elevation above the uppermost of said sprinkler heads and havingcommunication with said system at an elevation above the uppermostsprinkler head, said system and said chamber being normally charged withan initial supply of extinguishing fluid, a mixing tank containing amain supply of extinguishing fluid, said distributing system being incommuni cation with said mixing tank substantially at the bottomthereof, a chemical container having a passage for discharging chemicalinto said tank, said main supply of extinguishing fluid being chemicallyreactive with the chemical of said container to generate gas pressure insaid tank, a movable member for displacing chemical from said containerinto said passage, releasable means for supporting said movable member,said releasable means being responsive to a suction impulse, and suctionimpulse transmitting means connecting said suction chamber and saidreleasable means.

4. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a'distributing s'sten having a plurality of normally closed sprinkler heads adapted tobe opened in response to fire conditions, a suction chamber disposedabove the elevation of the uppermost of said sprinkler heads and havingcommunication with said system above the level of the uppermost of saidsprinkler heads, an

expansion tank disposed above the level of the uppermost of saidsprinkler heads and having therein a body of fluid with an extensivehorizontal surface area, said tank being in communication with systemthrough said chamber whereby iuid is normally maintained in the latterat substantially constant level as an initial supply to be fed to saidsystem at a substantially uniform hydrostatic head during the first fewmom s after the opening of one of said spi ler heads, a main supply tankof extinguish lg fluid, said system having communication with said tanksubstantially at the bottom thereof, a container associated with saidmain supply tank for discharging chemical thereinto, said main supply ofextinguishing fluid being chemicaily reactive with the chemical of saidcontainer for creating pressure in said tank for ing .id into saidsystem, suction impulse responsive means for initiating the discharge ofchemical into said tank, and means operably connecting said suctionchamber with said suction impulse responsive means.

5. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a suction chamberadapted to contain an'initial supply of extinguishing fluid, adistributing system comprising a riser, a plurality of sets of dischar epipes having springler heads thereon which are normally closed butadapted to be opened in response to fire conditions, and cross-mainshaving connection with said riser for supplying fluid therefrom to therespective sets of discharge pipes, said suction chamber being disposedat an elevation above the uppermost of said sprinkler heads, and havingcommunication" with said riser at a point above the uppermost sprinklerhead, a tank containing a main supply of extinguishing fluid and havingcommunication substantially at the bottom thereof with said riser, achemical container associated with said tank and having a passage fordischarging chemical into the latter, said main supply of extinguishingfluid being chemically reactive with the chemical of said container,suction impulse responsive means for initiating the discharge ofchemical" into said tank, suction impulse transmitting means connectingsaid suction chamber with said suction impulse responsive means, and acheck valve in each of said cross-mains, said check valve being arrangedto permit a new of extinguishing fluid into said discharge pipes fromsaid riserv but to prevent air trapped in one of the sets of saiddischarge pipes from expanding and inter fering with the discharge offluid from another of said sets of discharge pipes.

6. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a distributingsystem having a plurality of normally closed sprinkler heads adapted tobe opened in response to fire conditions, a suction chamber disposed atan elevationabove the uppermost of said sprink er heads and havingcommunication with said system at a point above the uppermost sprin lerhead, said system and said chamber being normally charged with aninitial supply of extinguishing fluid, a chemical mixing tank havingcommunication near the bottom thereof with said system and containing amain supply of extinguishing fl dd, a chemicalcontainer having a passagefor discharging passage, releasable means for supporting said movablemember including a movable arm extending through an opening in the Wallof said chemical container, and resilient means sealing said opening butpermitting movement of said arm, said releasable means being responsiveto a suction impulse, and suction impulse transmitting means connectingsaid suction chamber and said releasable means.

'7. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a distributingsystem having a plu rality of normally closed sprinkler heads adapted tobe opened in response to fire conditions, a suction chamber disposed atan elevation above the uppermost of said sprinkler heads and havingcommunication with said system at a point above the uppermost sprinklerhead, said system and said chamber being normally charged with aninitial supply of extinguishing fluid, a chemical mixing tank havingcommunication adjacent the bottom thereof with said system andcontaining a main supply of extinguishing fluid, a chemical containerhaving a passage for discharging chemical into said mixing tank, saidmain supply of extinguishing fluid being chemically reactive With thechemical of said container for creating a pressure in said tank forforcing fluid into said system, a movable member for displacing chemicalfrom said container into said passage, releasable means for supportingsaid member including a rocker arm extending through and fulcrumed in anopening in the wall of said chemical container, and resilient meanssealingsaid opening and permitting swinging movement of said arm, saidreleasable means being responsive to a suction impulse, and suctionimpulse transmitting means connecting said suction chamber and saidreleasable means.

JOHN R. HAMILTON.

